Valve assembly for a food product container of a food product dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

A food product valve for a container of a food product dispensing machine includes a body and a resiliently flexible member. The body defines a flow passage extending along a centerline, and includes a circumferentially continuous face for sealing contact with the container and an end portion that defines a seat. The resiliently flexible member is sealably disposed in the seat and includes a self-sealing piercing constructed and arranged to open for communication with the flow passage upon a force directed in a radially outward direction.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/034924, filed May 30,2017, and Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/343,258, filed May31, 2016, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a food product dispensing machine, andmore particularly, to a valve assembly for a food container of the foodproduct dispensing machine.

Bags are often used in food product dispensing machines to provide theraw and/or additive food product to the machine for processing beforedispensing. Non-limiting examples of food products may include syrupsand other additives. Syrups, for example, may be utilized in a frozenfood product dispensing machine to flavor drinks, frozen shakes,milkshakes, frozen desserts and other food products. The syrups storedin the bags may be mixed with ice and/or other ingredients or syrups andthen dispensed from the machine. Ideally, the syrups are completelyremoved from the bags prior to exchanging the bags for new, fullyfilled, bags. Unfortunately, in situations where bags are removed whichare partially filled, the food product within the bag may go to wastesince the ability to seal the partially filled bags for future use isnot readily available.

SUMMARY

A food product valve for a container of a food product dispensingmachine according to one, non-limiting, embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes a body defining a flow passage extending along acenterline, the body including a circumferentially continuous face forsealing contact with the container and an end portion defining a seat;and a resiliently flexible member sealably disposed in the seat andincluding a self-sealing piercing constructed and arranged to open forcommunication with the flow passage upon a force directed in a radiallyoutward direction.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment the body includes a first endportion projecting radially outward from the face.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodimentthe first end portion is tapered.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the food product valve includes a cap including a hole for communicationwith the flow passage when the flexible member is open, and wherein theflexible member is sealably biased between the cap and the seat.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the cap is releasably engaged to the body for removal of the flexiblemember.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the cap is threaded to the body.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the body includes a threaded flange for threaded engagement to the cap.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the container is a resiliently flexible bag.

A food product valve assembly for operational placement between a foodsupply tube and a resiliently flexible food bag of a food productdispensing machine according to another, non-limiting, embodimentincludes a valve including a body defining a first flow passage, a capengaged to the body and including a hole in communication with the firstflow passage, and a resiliently flexible member sealably biased betweenthe body and the cap, and wherein the resiliently flexible memberincludes a self-sealing piercing constructed and arranged to open forcommunication between the hole and the first flow passage; and a fittingincluding a first end segment engageable to the food supply tube and asecond end segment constructed and arranged to pierce the resilientlyflexible member, wherein the fitting defines a second flow passage thatcommunicates through the first and second end segments for fluidcommunication between the first flow passage when assembled.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the second end segment is abarbed end segment.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the fitting includes a circumferentially continuous sealing face, thatis sealed to the resiliently flexible member when the fitting extendsthrough the self-sealing piercing.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the resiliently flexible member is sealably biased radially against thesealing face of the fitting when assembled.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the fitting is a hose connector.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the body includes a tapered end portion constructed and arranged topierce the food bag.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the body includes a flanged end portion disposed opposite the taperedend portion.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the flange end portion is snap fitted to the cap.

A food product dispensing machine according to another, non-limiting,embodiment includes a food dispenser; a resiliently flexible food bag; atube generally communicating between the food dispenser and theresiliently flexible food bag; and a valve assembly interposed betweenthe tube and the flexible food bag to facilitate removal of the food bagfrom the tube, the valve assembly including a self-closing valve engagedto and in fluid communication with the resiliently flexible food bag,and a fitting engaged to and in fluid communication with the tube, andwherein the valve is in an open state when the fitting is releasablyconnected to the self-closing valve and is in a closed state when thefitting is removed from the self-closing valve.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the self-closing valveincludes a resiliently flexible member having a piercing for receipt ofthe fitting.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the resiliently flexible food bag is a syrup bag.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment,the food product dispensing machine is a frozen food product dispensingmachine.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise.These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will becomemore apparent in light of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings. However, it should be understood that the followingdescription and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature andnon-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the disclosed non-limitingembodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food product dispensing machineaccording to a non-limiting, exemplary, embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a food product supply station ofthe food product dispensing machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the food product supply station with a housingremoved to show internal detail;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a valve assembly and a food product bag ofthe food product supply station;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fitting of the valve assembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a self-closing valve of thevalve assembly; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a valveassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is a food product dispensing machine 20that may be a frozen food product dispensing machine. The productdispensing machine 20 may include a product dispensing station 22, aproduct conditioning station 24, and at least one food product supplystation 26. The stations 22, 24, 26 may generally be packaged andsupported within a common housing 28. In one embodiment, the housing 28may include castors 30 for easily transporting the product dispensingmachine 20 form one location to another within, for example, a foodservice establishment.

The product dispensing station 22 may be any type of dispenser generallyknown by one skilled in the art and may be dependent upon the type offood product being served. For example, the food product may be a softice cream dessert, a slush drink, or a carbonated drink each requiring avariation of the product dispensing station 22. The preceding list offood products is merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting.Generally, it is understood that the term ‘food product’ includesanything that may be in solid or liquid form.

The product conditioning station 24 may be a refrigeration unit, aheating unit, an aeration unit or any other type of product conditioningdevices depending upon the needs of the food product being served. Forexample, if the food product is chilled (e.g., soda), the conditioningstation 24 may be a refrigeration unit. Alternatively, if the foodproduct is being heated (e.g., hot chocolate drink or coffee), theconditioning station 24 may be a heating unit. It is furthercontemplated and understood that the conditioning station 24 may includemore than one and different conditioning units. For example, foodproducts that may be stored in the food product supply station 26 mayrequire cooler temperatures for food preservation; however, the samefood product may be dispensed through the product dispensing station 22as a hot drink, thus a heating unit as part of the product conditioningstation 24 may also be needed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the product supply station 26 may be aplurality of supply stations (i.e., four illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2)each including a removable product container 32, a product tray 34 and ahose or tube 36. The product tray 34 may be constructed and arranged toslide into and out of a chamber 38 having boundaries defined by thehousing 28. For example, when the tray 34 is completely inserted intothe chamber 38, and is supported by the housing 28, a door 40 of thehousing 28 may be closed to conceal the trays. If the chamber 38 istemperature controlled (e.g., chilled to preserve the food product viathe product conditioning station 24), the door 40 may include aperimeter seal 42 to preserve the chamber temperature. It is furthercontemplated and understood that the term “container” shall includeembodiments such as a flexible bag, a rigid container, a semi-rigidcontainer and other similar containers that facilitate the storage of afood product.

Each of the trays 34 may be constructed and arranged to support andcontain a food product bag 32, such as syrup bags. Each of the foodproduct bags 32 may be fluidly coupled to the product conditioningstation 24 and/or the product dispensing station 22 of the productdispensing machine 20 via the tube 36 that may be a flexible hose. Inone non-limiting example, a user may replenish a refrigerated foodproduct bag 32 within the product dispensing machine 20 by selectivelymoving the tray 34 to an extended position. Once extended, the user maydisconnect the unwanted food product bag 32 from the tube 36, remove thefood product bag 32 from the tray 34, connect a full product bag 32 tothe tube, and place the full product bag 32 into the tray 34. The usermay then push the tray 34 back into the chamber 38 (i.e., retractedposition).

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, the food product dispensing machine 20may include a food product valve assembly 60 constructed and arranged toconnect, and provide fluid communication between, the tube 36 and thefood product bag 32. Each valve assembly 60 may include a fitting 62 anda valve 64 that may be self-closing. The fitting 62 and valve 64 eachdefine boundaries of respective first and second flow passages 66, 68that may extend along a common centerline C. The fitting 62 is coupledto the tube 36 at one end and is detachably inserted into the valve 64at an opposite end. The valve 36 is detachably and sealably connected tothe food product bag 32. Attaching the valve 36 to the fittingfacilitates opening of the valve. Disconnecting the valve 36 from thefitting 62 facilitates closure of the valve. When the fitting 62 isassembled to the valve 64, the flow passages 66, 68 are in fluidcommunication with one-another, and food product may be evacuated fromthe food product bar 32 and into the tube 36 for further flow to, forexample, the food product conditioning station 24 of the food productdispensing machine 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fitting 62 may include opposite end segment 70,72 and a mid-segment 74 spanning axially between the end segments. Endsegment 70 may be shaped or contoured for sealable engagement to thetube 36. In one example, end segment 70 may be a barbed end segment thatis inserted axially inside the tube. The tube 36 may be resilientlyflexible and may exert a biasing force against the barb feature toprovide the seal. A hose clamp 74 (see FIG. 4) may be used in additionto (or in place of) the barb feature of the end segment 70. The oppositeend segment 72 of the fitting 62 may also be a barbed end segment,tapered and/or pointed. More specifically, the barbed end segment 72 maycarry an annular surface 76 and a substantially conical surface 78. Theannular surface 76 spans radially outward from a circumferentiallycontinuous sealing face 80 of the mid-segment 74, and to a radiallyoutward edge or perimeter 82 of the conical surface 78. The conicalsurface 78 may project axially away from, and radially inward from, theperimeter 82 and to a distal perimeter 84. A radius (not shown) of thedistal perimeter 84 may be less than a radius of the sealing face 80,and the radius of the sealing face 80 may be less than a radius of theouter perimeter 82. It is further contemplated and understood that theend segment 72 may be any variety of forms that may be designed topuncture, or otherwise be sealably inserted, into the bag 32.

Referring to FIG. 6, the self-closing valve 64 of the food product valveassembly 60 may include a body 86, a member 88, and a cap 90. The body86 may define the boundaries of the second passageway 68, and includesopposite end portions 92, 94 and a mid-portion 96 spanning axiallybetween the end portions. End portion 92 may be shaped or contoured toform a seat 98 for sealing contact with the member 88 and detachableengagement with the cap 90. More specifically, end portion 92 mayinclude a flange 100 that projects radially outward from acircumferentially continuous (e.g., cylindrical) sealing face 102carried by the mid-portion 96. An outer cylindrical face 104 of theflange 100 may define threads for threaded engagement with the cap 90.The seat 98 may be carried by the flange 100 which at least in-partdefines the boundaries of a counter-bore 106 in axial, fluid,communication with the flow passage 68. It is contemplated andunderstood that the flange 100 may not include threads, and instead thecap 90 may, in one non-limiting example, be snap fitted over the flange100.

The end portion 94 of the body 86 may be a barbed end portion forinsertion into the food product bag 32. More specifically, the barbedend portion 94 may carry an annular surface 108 and a substantiallyconical surface 110. The annular surface 108 spans radially outward fromthe sealing face 102 of the mid-portion 96, and to a radially outwardedge or perimeter 112 of the conical surface 110. The conical surface110 may project axially away from, and radially inward from, the outerperimeter 112 and to a distal perimeter 114. A radius (not shown) of thedistal perimeter 114 may be less than a radius of the sealing face 102,and the radius of the sealing face 102 may be less than a radius of theouter perimeter 112.

The resiliently flexible member 88 of the self-closing valve 64 may bedisc-like in shape and includes a piercing 116 extending through themember and generally aligned with the centerline C. A continuousperimeter 118 of the member 88 may be resiliently and axially compressedbetween the seat 98 and the cap 90 when the valve 64 is fully assembled.A hole 120 is defined by and communicates axially through the cap 90,and is in fluid communication with the piercing 116 of the member 88. Aradius (not shown) of the hole 120 may be greater than the radius of theouter perimeter 82 of the barbed end segment 72 of the fitting 62 topermit entry of the barbed end segment 72 into the valve 64 when thevalve assembly 60 is engaged (i.e., fully assembled).

Assembly of the valve assembly 60 (after, for example, a cleaningprocedure), may be accomplished by first placing the resilientlyflexible member 88 upon the seat 98 of the body 86. The cap 90 may thenbe threaded onto the flange 100, and until the perimeter 118 of themember 88 is axially and resiliently compressed between the cap 90 andthe seat 98. With the fitting 62 pre-connected to the tube 36 (in oneembodiment), the barbed end segment 72 of the fitting may be axiallypushed through the piercing 116 of the resiliently flexible member 88.The leading or distal perimeter 84 of the barbed end segment 72 has asufficiently small radius to initiate entry of the end segment 72through the piercing 116 of the member 118. Continued axial insertioncauses the piercing 116 to widen until the member 118 resiliently snapfits over the outer perimeter 82 of the barbed end segment 72. Onceover, the resiliency of the member 88 causes the member to flex radiallyinward and substantially seal against the sealing face 80 of themid-segment 74. Entry of the end segment 72 through the piercing 116causes the once closed valve (i.e., the piercing 116 is essentiallyclosed upon itself) to open.

With the fitting 62 engaged to the valve 64, the barbed end portion 94of the valve body 86 may be pierced through a wall of the food productbag 32. More specifically and in one, non-limiting, example, the leadingor distal perimeter 114 of the barbed end portion 94 has a sufficientlysmall radius and contour (e.g., point) to initiate entry of the endportion 94 through the bag wall. Continued insertion of the end portion94 through the bag wall may cause the wall to resiliently expand aboutthe end portion and until the bag wall resiliently snap fits over theouter perimeter 112 of the barbed end portion 94. Once over, theresilient flexibility of the bag wall may assist the wall to retract orflex radially inward (i.e., return toward a natural state), andsubstantially seal against the sealing face 102 of the mid-portion 96.

Referring to FIG. 7, a second embodiment of a food product valveassembly is illustrated wherein like elements to the first embodimenthave like identifying numerals except with the addition of a primesymbol suffix. The food product valve assembly 60′ includes a fitting62′, a cap 90′, a member 88′, a body 86′, and a reinforcement structure122 that may be part of a food product bag (not shown). When assembled,the fitting 62′ may be press fitted and/or clamped to a tube 36, extendsthrough the cap 90′ and member 88′, and projects into the body 86′. Thebody 86′ may include a substantially pointed end portion 94 adapted to,for example, puncture a container for sealable insertion into thecontainer.

Advantages and benefits of the present disclosure include the ability toexchange a partially evacuated food product bag with a full bag or a bagof a different food product, while automatically sealing the evacuatedfood product bag for later use with little or no risk of contamination.Other advantages include improved operating efficiency, optimal use of afood product, and improved sanitary practices.

While the present disclosure is described with reference to illustratedembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Inaddition, various modifications may be applied to adapt the teachings ofthe present disclosure to particular situations, applications, and/ormaterials, without departing from the essential scope thereof. Thepresent disclosure is thus not limited to the particular examplesdisclosed herein, but includes all embodiments falling within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A food product valve assembly for operationalplacement between a food supply tube and a resiliently flexible food bagof a food product dispensing machine, the food product valve assemblycomprising: a valve including a body defining a first flow passage, acap engaged to the body and including a hole in communication with thefirst flow passage, and a resiliently flexible member sealably biasedbetween the body and the cap, and wherein the resiliently flexiblemember includes a self-sealing piercing constructed and arranged to openfor communication between the hole and the first flow passage; and afitting including a first end segment engageable to the food supply tubeand a second end segment constructed and arranged to pierce theresiliently flexible member, wherein the fitting defines a second flowpassage that communicates through the first and second end segments forfluid communication between the first flow passage when assembled,wherein the second end segment of the fitting is a barbed end segment,wherein the first end segment of the fitting is a hose connector,wherein the fitting includes a circumferentially continuous sealing facethat is sealed to the resiliently flexible member when the fittingextends through the self-sealing piercing, wherein the resilientlyflexible member is sealably biased radially against the sealing face ofthe fitting when assembled, and wherein the body includes a tapered endportion constructed and arranged to pierce the food bag.
 2. The foodproduct valve assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein the body includes aflanged end portion disposed opposite the tapered end portion.
 3. Thefood product valve assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein the flange endportion is snap fitted to the cap.
 4. A food product dispensing machinecomprising: a food dispenser; a resiliently flexible food bag; a tubegenerally communicating between the food dispenser and the resilientlyflexible food bag; and a valve assembly interposed between the tube andthe flexible food bag to facilitate removal of the food bag from thetube, the valve assembly including a self-closing valve engaged to andin fluid communication with the resiliently flexible food bag, and afitting engaged to and in fluid communication with the tube, and whereinthe valve is in an open state when the fitting is releasably connectedto the self-closing valve and is in a closed state when the fitting isremoved from the self-closing valve, the self-closing valve includes abody defining a first flow passage, a cap engaged to the body andincluding a hole in communication with the first flow passage, and aresiliently flexible member sealably biased between the body and thecap, and wherein the resiliently flexible member includes a self-sealingpiercing constructed and arranged to open for communication between thehole and the first flow passage; and the fitting including a first endengaged with the tube and a second end segment constructed and arrangedto pierce the resiliently flexible member, wherein the fitting defines asecond flow passage that communicates through the first and second endsegments for fluid communication between the first flow passage whenassembled, wherein the second end segment of the fitting is a barbed endsegment, wherein the first end segment of the fitting is a hoseconnector, wherein the fitting includes a circumferentially continuoussealing face that is sealed to the resiliently flexible member when thefitting extends through the self-sealing piercing, wherein theresiliently flexible member is sealably biased radially against thesealing face of the fitting when assembled, and wherein the bodyincludes a tapered end portion constructed and arranged to pierce theresiliently flexible food bag.
 5. The food product dispensing machineset forth in claim 4, wherein the resiliently flexible food bag is asyrup bag.
 6. The food product dispensing machine set forth in claim 4,wherein the food product dispensing machine is a frozen food productdispensing machine.